German Accessibility Requirements: Understanding the BGG, BITV 2.0, and BFSG

Author: Level Access

Germany enforces digital accessibility through the BGG, which applies to public‑sector websites and mobile apps, and the BFSG, which extends accessibility requirements to private‑sector businesses providing certain consumer products and services. To comply with these laws, organizations should conform to EN 301 549 and take additional measures including publishing detailed accessibility statements. 

Germany has taken a proactive approach to ensuring equal opportunities for its citizens, and there are multiple German accessibility laws that govern digital accessibility. These include the Disability Equality Act (BGG) and the Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG).

The BGG was passed in 2002 to ensure equal access to all individuals with disabilities. This law can be compared to the U.S. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). However, unlike the ADA, the BGG was amended to include the EU’s Web Accessibility Directive (WAD), which mandates digital accessibility for public-sector websites and mobile applications in the 27 European Union (EU) Member States, including Germany.

Supplementing the BGG, the Barrier-Free Information Technology Ordinance (BITV) is legally binding regulation that provides specific accessibility criteria for websites and mobile apps. The latest version, BITV 2.0, requires conformance with EN 301 549, the EU standard for information and communication technology (ICT) accessibility.

Germany’s most recently passed accessibility regulation, the BFSG, extends accessibility requirements to the private sector. The BFSG is Germany’s implementation of the European Accessibility Act (EAA), which became enforceable in June 2025.

Which laws your organisation should be mindful of depend on what sector you operate in, and who your buyers are. If you work at a public-sector organisation in Germany, or sell to Germany’s public sector, meeting the requirements of the BGG—including conformance with the BITV and the EN 301549—is critical. If you provide consumer products and services covered by the EAA, you’ll need to comply with the BFSG.

So what exactly do these laws mandate when it comes to digital accessibility—and how can you ensure you’re meeting your obligations? In this blog, we’ll unpack the intricacies of the BGG, BITV 2.0, and BFSG, so you can confidently work toward compliance.

Key insights

• The BGG applies to public bodies in Germany. The presumed compliance standard, as stated in the BITV 2.0, is EN 301 549, the harmonized EU standard for ICT accessibility.
• The BFSG is Germany’s transposition of the EAA, applicable to organizations in the private sector that deal with consumers or consumer transactions (B2C / B2B2C). It extends accessibility requirements to a wide range of consumer products and services, including banking, telecommunications services, e‑commerce services, audiovisual media services, and self-service terminals.
• The BFSG became enforceable in June of 2025. Businesses that fail to comply may be subject to investigations from market surveillance authorities.
• Conforming with EN 401 549 is the best way to meet the technical requirements of both the BGG and the BFSG. This involves ensuring that digital interfaces are compatible with assistive technologies used by people with disabilities.
• Additional requirements for both the BGG and BFSG include publishing detailed accessibility statements.

What is the BGG?

The Behindertengleichstellungsgesetz (BGG)—Germany’s Federal Disability Equality Act—is the core national law that establishes equal rights, non‑discrimination, and accessibility requirements for people with disabilities in the Germany. It has been in force since 2002 and has been expanded several times to align with the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the EU Web Accessibility Directive (WAD).

As of a 2018 amendment, the BGG includes provisions of the WAD that mandate web accessibility for public-sector organizations. This amendment marked the first time that web accessibility was directly addressed by German laws.

What is the BITV?

BITV stands for Barrierefreie-Informationstechnik-Verordnung, which translates to the Barrier-Free Information Technology Ordinance. It is a legally binding regulation that outlines how organizations should implement digital accessibility. The BITV supports the BGG by specifying technical requirements for websites, mobile apps, and information technology (IT) systems provided by public-sector organisations in Germany. The latest version of this ordinance, known as the BITV 2.0, came into effect in May 2019.

The BITV 2.0: What’s different?

The BITV 2.0 is the latest iteration of Germany’s digital accessibility ordinance applying to government organisations. This update aims to further enhance accessibility standards by harmonizing with the mandated EU accessibility standard, EN 301 549, and supporting a broader range of technologies and user needs. Key changes include:

Alignment with the European ICT standard

One of the most notable updates in the BITV 2.0 is the requirement that companies must observe the EN 301 549 standard for ICT accessibility. This change ensures that public-sector organisations adhering to BITV requirements are also meeting broader European standards, simplifying the compliance process for public-sector entities by consolidating accessibility guidelines into a single framework. This means that products and services that comply with German accessibility laws are also compliant with the accessibility laws of other EU Member States, such as Italy’s Legge Stanca.

Expanded scope

Originally, BITV accessibility requirements applied only to the websites of German government organisations. With BITV 2.0, the ordinance now incorporates EN 301 549, which includes accessibility guidelines for a wide range of ICT products and services, such as hardware, software, cloud computing, and internet services. Although BITV 2.0 itself does not directly mandate accessibility for these areas, its alignment with EN 301 549 ensures that such standards are recognised and supported in public-sector accessibility requirements.

More specific guidelines

The BITV 2.0 also introduces more detailed and specific guidelines for achieving accessibility. As mentioned previously, the BITV 2.0 aligns with EN 301 549, which provides technical requirements for accessibility in areas such as media, links, colour, formatting, and structure of digital content. While the first version of the BITV referenced the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 1.0, the BITV 2.0 established that EN 301 549, which adopted WCAG 2.1 in December 2018, is the standard for compliance. WCAG provides that digital content should align with the POUR principles: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.

Mandatory testing

The BITV 2.0 supports mandatory testing by providing a technical framework aligned with EN 301 549, which is used by designated monitoring bodies to evaluate public-sector websites and mobile applications in accordance with the WAD. Organisations are not required to undergo BITV compliance audits themselves; however, monitoring bodies conduct accessibility evaluations as part of their oversight responsibilities. Additionally, BITV 2.0 provides technical guidance for implementing user feedback mechanisms, as required by the BGG and WAD. These mechanisms enable users to report accessibility issues, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and responsiveness to user needs.

Who does the BITV 2.0 apply to?

The BITV 2.0 supports the BGG’s web accessibility provisions, which apply specifically to public-sector bodies in Germany, including government agencies at the federal, state, and local levels. Even though the BITV does not directly apply to private-sector entities, vendors and contractors working on behalf of public-sector bodies must ensure their services meet certain BGG compliance requirements, including conformance with the BITV 2.0.

What is required for BITV conformance?

To align with the BITV and comply with the BGG, organisations should take the following measures:

Meet EN 301 549

The European standard EN 301 549 (referenced in the BITV 2.0) incorporates WCAG 2.1 AA as the accessibility baseline for websites and mobile applications. While AAA conformance is not mandatory, the BITV 2.0 encourages achieving “the highest possible level of accessibility” where feasible, which should include home pages, central navigation, entry-level offers, and areas that allow for user interaction, such as fillable forms, user authentication, and payment processes.

Include German Sign Language and Easy Language on their home pages

The BITV 2.0 states that German Sign Language and Easy Language (a standard for easily understood text that contains simple language) should be included on the home page of a website. These should convey essential information about the website’s contents, along with navigation tips and the website’s accessibility statement, to ensure clarity and inclusivity for users with disabilities.

Publish accessibility statements

Websites must contain an accessibility statement on their homepage, and mobile apps must include this statement on their download page. The accessibility statement must indicate whether the website or app conforms with EN 301 549 accessibility guidelines, list any inaccessible content, and include a feedback mechanism for users to report accessibility issues or request alternative formats. It must also detail how accessibility was reviewed and provide contact information for the arbitration body responsible for resolving disputes. This statement must be updated annually or whenever significant changes are made to the website or app.

The BFSG: Germany’s accessibility strengthening act

While the BGG governs accessibility for public-sector websites and apps, the Barrierefreiheitstärkungsgesetz (BFSG) expands the scope significantly by regulating private‑sector consumer products and services. As Germany’s accessibility improvement act implementing the EAA, it introduces standardised accessibility obligations across industries ranging from e‑commerce and telecommunications to banking, including requirements for self‑service terminals.

Products and services covered by the BFSG

The BFSG applies to many products placed on the EU market and services offered to consumers after June 28, 2025. Coverage includes general‑purpose hardware systems and consumer devices (computers, mobile devices, smartphones), e-book readers, and multiple categories of self-service terminals such as ticket machines or check‑in machines. It also encompasses consumer terminal equipment used for telecommunications services and devices used to access audiovisual media services.

With regard to services, the BFSG’s scope spans telecommunications services, e‑commerce services (including online shops), consumer banking, e‑books and related software, elements of passenger transport such as electronic tickets, and digital services that facilitate concluding consumer contracts. The BFSG’s goal is to remove barriers across essential, consumer‑facing products and services in the German market and other EU Member-States, such as Spain.

Specific obligations for economic operators

Under the BFSG, economic operators—manufacturers, distributors, importers, authorised representatives, other economic operators, and service providers across the supply chain—must meet defined accessibility requirements, keep technical documentation showing how they ensure compliance with applicable technical standards (such as EN 301 549), and design perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust user interface components and interactive features.

In practice, that means providing text alternatives, clear structure and feedback, and support for more than one sensory channel in line with expectations for assistive technologies across websites and mobile apps. These key obligations reflect the BFSG’s role as an accessibility reinforcement act for relevant products and services covered by national law.

Micro-enterprise exemption

Micro enterprises that provide services may be exempt from the BFSG if they have fewer than 10 employees and do not exceed €2 million in annual turnover or annual balance sheet total. Even where exempt, organisations are encouraged to take appropriate measures to improve digital accessibility and remove barriers in high‑impact user journeys.

Disproportionate burden defense

Organisations may invoke disproportionate burden where full conformance would entail excessive total costs, require significant external assistance, or cause particular difficulty or fundamental alteration of the service. Where this applies, businesses should still implement partial adjustments and plan staged improvements to ensure compliance over time.

Enforcement and penalties under the BFSG

The BFSG empowers market surveillance authorities to request documentation, investigate, order remediation, restrict or recall non‑conforming products and services, and impose penalties where appropriate. In addition, there may be a risk of private enforcement under competition law if accessibility duties are treated as market conduct regulations under the German Unfair Competition Act, so it’s critical to identify your competent market surveillance authority, maintain a defensible accessibility statement, and keep thorough records.

Fines range from €10,000 to €100,000 per violation based on the severity of the case.

Transitional periods

Services provided before June 28, 2025 may continue until June 27, 2030. Self‑service terminals installed before June 28, 2025 may continue until June 27, 2040. After those dates, continued provision of in‑scope services and use of covered terminals must comply with the BFSG, so inventory, budgeting, and upgrade roadmaps should begin now.

How to get started with BGG and BFSG compliance

Achieving compliance with the BGG and BFSG involves addressing various aspects of digital accessibility. Here are a few steps to get started:

Obtain a thorough compliance audit.

Performing voluntary evaluations of websites and mobile apps can help you identify potential violations of EN 301 549 and BITV 2.0, and stay ahead of government monitoring. For reliable results, these audits should be performed by experts, including people with disabilities. Thorough evaluations will surface issues—such as inadequate colour contrast, lack of text alternatives for images, or inaccessible navigation menus—that may create barriers or challenges for people with disabilities.

Create a comprehensive remediation plan.

This plan should outline the specific actions required to address each identified barrier, prioritizing the most critical issues. The remediation process may involve redesigning website elements, updating content to include alternative formats, and ensuring that all interactive features are accessible via keyboard navigation. It is essential to follow the EN 301 549 and BITV accessibility requirements closely during this phase to ensure that all changes align with the latest German accessibility laws.

Maintain ongoing testing.

Ongoing testing is a crucial component of achieving, and maintaining, compliance with German accessibility laws. Organisations should conduct thorough testing, using both automated tools and manual methods, on a regular basis to verify that their websites and applications meet the required technical standards.

Document compliance.

Organisations should maintain detailed records of their accessibility efforts, including the actions taken, the outcomes of testing, and any feedback received from users. Where relying on disproportionate burden, document rationale, total costs, and timelines.

Publish an accessibility statement.

Include a statement on your website or mobile apps detailing conformance with EN 301 549, listing inaccessible areas, providing a feedback mechanism, and outlining how accessibility was evaluated. For services in the scope of the BFSG that aim at contract conclusion, ensure end‑to‑end accessibility at each step.

German accessibility requirements: Ensuring equal opportunities for all

As you’ve likely gathered by now, the process to meet BGG and BFSG requirements can be complex, requiring multiple areas of expertise. Having a skilled and knowledgeable partner by your side can help.

Level Access has supported organisations around the world to achieve compliance and improve every user’s experience. Contact our team today to learn how our platform and expert services can help you meet your digital accessibility goals.